Angle-cock.



"0.704364. Patented m l5, I902.

' J. A HELM.

ANGLE COCK.

Applicnticm filed Sept. 20 1900.0 (No Model.) 2 Sheetr-Sheet l.

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Patented luiy I5, 1902. J. A. HELM. I ANGLECOCK. (Apphcatiofi am I 2 Sheefs Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES AR'FHUR HELM, OF NEWARK, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ADAM O. WAGNER, OF NEWARK, OHIO.

A LE;

COCK.

srnc'rrrca'rron armin partof Letters Patent are. 704,964, are July 15, 1902.

Application filed deptember 20, 190i). Serial No. 30,581. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES ARTHUR HELM, a citizen of the-United States, residing at New ark, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Angle-Cocks 5 and I do here by declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in air-brake mechanism for cars, more especially what are termed angle-cooks therefor. I

Among other things my invention has for its aim to automatically detect or discover the fact of the accidental or unauthorized turning or: shifting of the angle-cock controlling the supply of air to the train brake-pipes to guard against disastrous railroad accidents, as not infrequently resultfrom that cause.

A further object is to provide for the effective cutting 0d of the train-brake-pipe air, as also of the signal-return-pipe'airg also, to prevent the tampering with the airreturn pipe-controlling valve or plug without first requiring the turning or manipulating of the trainpipe angle-cock, which would result in the detection of such an attempt.

It furtherprovides for greatly-simplifying the structure, and consequently lessening the cost of manufacture, together with otherwise promoting facility, convenience, and expedi- 'i'llOll'. I

It consists, stated generally, of the combination and arrangement of certain parts, including their construction, substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed, andspecifically pointed'out by the claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of 'myinvehtion, Figure l is a plan view, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a side view showing more particularly the angle-cock and alarm appa-' ratus. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the angle-cock. Fig. 4 is a partly-sectional View taken at one side of the anglecock. Figs. 5 and 6 are views of the anglecock plug fromdiflferent points ofview. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken through 1 coupling-"sections.

train-pipe. sage'in itself does not constitute any materialfeature of the invention.

the left-hand portion of Fig. 1, restricted more particularly to the signal return air pipe Fig. 8 is a broken horizontal section of the invention. Fig. 9 is a detached side 'view of a coupling section or member. Fig. -10 is a view disclosing the blind coupling for an end car or end of the train-brake-pipe system.

Latitude is allowed herein as to details, as they may be changed without departing from the spirit of my invention and the same yet remain intact and be protected.

' In carrying out my invention I employ an angle-cock formed of a chambered casting 1 and a plug 2. Said plug has a port 3 communicating with the through-passage 3 in said casting and a return air passage or port 4:,

similarly related to a second or'return passage 4 in said casting. Said plug 2 is suitably provided with amanipulating-handle 5, applied to its upper end 5*. by preference and having a lug or stop 6 to engage ofisets or shoulders 7 on the casting 1 to limit the turning of the plug as required improperly opening and closing the valve. Said plug has also a by-pass or duct 8, with its horizontal portion arranged just below theport 3 and its vertical end terminals 8* arranged upon opposite sides of said port, adapted to register or communicate withthe port or passage 3 and with port 4 of the plug casting via the lateral circuitous channelsor passages 9 9, formed in a lateral enlargement or elongation of said casting, when the plug 2 turned so that its port 3 is taken outo'falinement with the The tortuous course of said pas- It is only require'd-"that a by-Way passage or route be furnishedto effect connection between the trainpipe registering passage of the angle-cock and a return-passage to provide for-sending in an alarm or signal whenever the occasion for such shall arise, as would be the case in event of so turning said plug as would cut off the flow of air or fluid through the anglecock and the succeeding train brake-pipe. The arrangement of said'by-pass and its angularity of construction provide for efiectively sending in an alarm or signal, when of course the'angle-cock is turned out of operative relation with the train-pipe, as above intimated. The by-pass S has also itsvertical portions or arms 8 each provided with a lateral extension 8", whereby it will be seen that by the movement to any appreciable extent of the angle-cock as contradistinguished from a full movement or turn communication will be established with the return air or signal pipe. Thus it will be observed that in an attempt to turn to any extent the angle-cock plug lever or handle positioned directly over the air or signal return-passage valve, as before described, which would be necessary to affect the position of said valve, a signal would be sent in notifying the engineer of that fact. At the same time said signal is transmitted the engineer does not lose control of the train brake mechanism back or beyond the point of the attempted cutting oi the air actuating said mechanism, as would otherwise be the case. Also by this arrangement it will be noted that a conductor or traininan is enabled to slightly set the brake from any portion of the train by a slight movement of the angle-cock and yet not interfere with the engineer operating the brake for the entire length of the train.

The lateral circuitous passages or channels 9 arein construction preferably V shape,with their points of convergence adapted to register or communicate with an arm or vertical terminal of the by-pass 8 in the angle-cock plug and their divergent upper ends adapted to communicate with the air-return passage 1 when the plug 2 of the angle-cock is turned, as above indicated, to produce a return airblast through said passage to send in the signal or alarm indicating that the angle-cock is being tampered with.

A valve or plug 10 may, if desired, be arranged to control or close off the air in the return-passage 4, which would be desirable or necessary in event the entire train of cars was not equipped with the invention. It is preferable to so arrange said valve or plug as that the lever or handle 5 of the anglecock shall when said cock is open occupy a position directly over or in alinement with said valve 10, whereby it is apparent that in order to gain access to or effect the manipulation of said valve or plug 10 the lever of said angle-cock would have to be manipulated, in which event a return air-blast, consequently a signal, would be sent in, calling attention to the fact of the tampering with the valve 10, if resorted to, or attempted to be turned by any unauthorized person.

In connecting up the different train-brakepipe sections and the air-return-pipe sections I employ a coupling 11, comprising interlocking or interconnecting disks or members 11 and eccentric or cam-like oifsets 11", formed upon opposite coupling-sections 11, respectively. These in general, however, not being original with me, except as further noted hereinafter, need not be described in detail herein. Each of these coupling-sections I provide with a nozzle or pipe section l2, with one end preferably screwed into a hollow head or casting 12, suitably secured to its respective coupling-section, with its bore or chamber suitably equipped with a gasket or packing 13 to render it air-tight and in communication with the opposite corresponding head or casting of the opposite coupling-section. The nozzle or pipe sections 12 of respective coupling-sections are connected by a suitable flexible pipe or hose section 14 throughout the train with the air-return passages 4 of the angle-cock castings.

It will be understood that I provide or equip each car of the train at each end also with what is termed a blind coupling-section 15 for use in connection with whichever may happen to be the end car of the train for cutting off the escape of the air at that point. Such blind coupling-section 15 is adapted to be suitably hung upon the car, it being held thereon by placing it in a bracket or support of suitable contour to receive said couplingsection fastened to the car. It derives its name of blind coupling from the fact that it is devoid of anypassage or chamber which would effect communication between respective coupling-sections, (rather the train brakepipes and air return pipes.) These blind coupling sections are, of course, each provided with a suitable packing gasket or ring, as above described, to render the parts effectively air-tight.

It is obvious that in event of the accidental turning or unauthorized tampering with the angle-cock the air or fluid is cut off from any train-brake pipe the air or fluid will seek an outlet through the by-pass 8 and find its way to the passages 'or channels 9 in the casting and the return air-passage 4 and be continued back to the locomotive-cab by a return-pipe 21, communicating with said return-passage, and actuate a whistle 23, a gagelike index 22, or a blasting contrivance 24, so designated for convenience,the same adapt ed to liberate the blast of air sent through said return pipe. In this way a signal or warning will be sent in notifying the engineer of the fact of the cutting off of the air in the train-pipe at an angle-cock, as above noted The engineer then stops his train and at once seeks to locate the difliculty, in doing which he is enabled to restore the angle-cock to its open position and the train brake-pipe thus be again put in running order.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI claim, and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In apparatus of the character described, the angle-cock having its plug provided with a return air-port and a by-pass adapted to communicate with a tortuous lateral channel or passage in the plug closure or casting, in turn communicating with a return-passage also in said plug closure or casting and a pipe adapted to connect with said return airpassage, said return air-port also communieating with said return air-passage, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the angle cock casting or closure having lateral passages or channels jointly of V shape, the angle-cock plug havinga by-pass with its horizontal portion below the lower port of said plug and one extremity adapted to communicate with the apex of said lateral V- shaped channels communicating with a re turn air-passage in said plug-casting, and means connecting said return-passage to a signaling device in the engine-cab, substantially as set forth.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the angle-cock comprising a casting having a lateral V-shaped channel and a return airpassage, aplug having two ports, one adapted to communicate with said return air-passage, and a by-pass adapted to engage with said V- shaped channel, a pipe connecting said return-passage to a signaling device in the engine-cab, and avalve arranged in said return air-passage, under the angle-cock plug lever, substantially as set forth.

4. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of. an angle-cock having its casting or closure provided with a lateral passage and a return air-passage communicating with said lateral passage said angle-cock having its plug provided with a by-pass having vertical arms terminating in lateral extensions at their upper ends,, communicating with the train brake-pipe, and with said lateral passage said plug also having a port communicating with said air-return passage, substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus of the character described, theangle-cock having its plug provided with icy-passes, with one arm of each adapted to communicate with the main air-passage of the train-pipe, said plug having its closure provided with circuitous passages or channels adapted to connect at a common point with said by-passes and with a return-passage in the plug-closure, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES ARTHUR HELM.

Witnesses:

ADAM CHRISTOPHER WAGNER, JAMES FLYNN. 

